The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-12-29

stood in the warmest corner-secondhand
articles, one and all; but, to me, first hand
from the great store-house OF Heavenly
Providence.
Twilight came and night closed IN STORM
lily, with great fakes Of snow falling soft
" upon thew acknowledges.
Tired Of playing, Josie and 10 crept hap
PLY into the great, soft marvel OF q bed,
and soon were drowned in the sweet ocean
OF lumber After they were sound asleep
! sat down before the FIRE and fell 10 usinR
Force Of habit took my hands to my head.
force Of habit united the faded sidken rfb.
bons beneath my chin-then force Of habit
stopped, for my inattentivc brains being
telegraphed to by my fngertips that some
thing foreign had been touched, came to q
sudden sense Of LIES realities, and win 4
little cry pulled the yielding elastic band
That held the sllken covering in place, and
down tnmbled all my W hair-a great,
cleaning mass OF amber strandsf I
gathered up thick tresses in my hands and
kissed them in my gladness. I shook it
like q banner in the breeze-a golden orr
fiamme-but then I remembered, and re-
membering, I cried:
"What does this meant,
sit MEANS" said a kindly, alf-laughing
voice across the counter, when next day I
had come once more within the fragrant
room and asked the meaning Of It's pro-
prietor's perplexing action, that I could
not think Of cutting it of in such bitter
weather-why, child, it would have been
the death Of you'll II summer brings me q
customer we will talk more about it-bnAI
knew your present need sol gave You money
in advance. I knew the washing would
tighten its weight upon your head, and il
was a little trick of mine. to bind it within.
the silken hood. So Santa Claus was good
to you-but I still claim the hair, remernberi
Might I offer you a place within the work.
rooms The wages are small, at first, but in
creasing knowledge of the trade will cause
their swift advancement-nay, spare me
your thanks and gratitude, my child"
u u \ 4
In a clean, warm, well-lighted work-room
l, thereafter, pass the short winter days
and the long winter evenings. Joy reigns
in my heart; Joy and it's creator, love.
And the spring-time follows winter, and
summer follows spring; and when the rose
trees faunt the perfume of their rich, red
blossoms on the still, warm air, and pink
carnations burden the dewy nights with
spicy breath, a voice, whose every tone 10
ever echoed. in my heart of hearts, SPEAKS
to me softly:
:" have come for your hair" i
"oh, sir,"I cry, "oh, sir, not now
L" then, pleadingly, " why do you insist
upon it? You seemed 10th to cut II on
months ago whom I was poor and needy
and now
"My child, do not take it so seriously
Heaven is my witness-no hair Of this heed
shall come to harm for ought Of mel I
want theh hair, certainly; but I shall never
take it, sweetheart, unless the head comes
with it, and the dear little body that holds
the sensible head up SO bravelyl / am
bound, heart, soul and body, in the meshes
of this golden web-this shining net, which
/ will not have refused to mel Speak, my
darling, may I have it," and he stoops and
parts the flaxen tangle from before my
blushing face. &
You have bought il" I make answer
" it is yours" EVA BEST. s